Being that I live in Taiwan now, I will have the opportunity to sail on the Tss China Sea Discovery this very afternoon. It is a one night high seas cruise (read casino cruise)...
I am very curious to see first hand what has been done to this once fine ship. I understand that many of her public rooms on Promenade deck have been gutted and replaced by casinos.

Anyway, I will let you all know about the condition of the ship, and offer my comments.

Below is the current itinerary and tariffs for the Tss China Sea Discovery. I will convert the New Taiwan Dollar into US$.

Thursday--high seas cruise-depart Keelung 20:30
return Fri 12 noon. US$ 60

Friday--high seas cruise-depart Keelung 21:00
return Sat 12 noon. US$ 60

Saturday--high seas cruise-depart Keelung 20:30
return Sunday 12 noon. US$ 68

Sunday--high seas cruise-depart Keelung 21:00
return Monday 12 noon. US$68

Monday--3D/2N cruise to Ishigaki,Japan.
Depart Monday 22:00 and return Keelung
Wednesday morning 10:00 US$ 103

*it is not clear if the ship actually docks at Ishigaki. I will find out.
Also, I really don't understand how they are assigning cabins!!!
I was "told" by the agent that it is first come, first served. Meaning if you book early, you get an outside cabin etc, etc, but ALL cabins are priced the same at this moment, except for the suites I guess!
I am assigned outside cabin 155 on Deck 7.
If you have any questions, fire away.......
I'll report back to you all with more info.
Until later,

To go directly to the review Click Here

Great Review and Pictures Mike.

Joe at TravelPage.com

[ 10-15-2002: Message edited by: joe at travelpage ]

That said this is better than her being laid-up and hopefully the product will improve...

I hope she is much, much cheaper than SuperStar Aries though !

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Originally posted by joe at travelpage:
Mike's detailed review and photo's are now online in the Reader Review section.

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Thank you Mike, a very interesting review and photos. 400 crew, but only 144 passengers? Is it worth sailing? Or do the gamblers contribute considerably? You did make me laugh over the 'Hostesses' She would certainly make for an interesting trip if I were ever out that way.

First let me thank Joe for all his help especially in posting the photographs for me. I am really bad with such things. As it is, I managed to send him wrong photos. The ones I really wanted posted never got to him.
Anyway, thanks Joe for your time and effort on my behalf.It is appreciated.

Baker: Yes, I imagine the ship has changed a lot.
To my eyes, there was no hint whatsoever of her Cunard heritage, and nothing, except for stairwell deck signage relating to when she was with Princess.

Patrick: I believe that Albatros is much nicer, at least from the photos that I have seen of her.

Cruiseny: Thanks for your compliment about my review. Yes, China Sea Discovery is dingy. But, I still think with the proper care and maintenance, and some more rouge and powder she could still be pleasing.
Hopefully conditions will change aboard her. Being that she just started this service from Keelung, the owners are still in a "try out" mode. The crew and staff along with the entertainers, are still experimenting with "what works." And yes, Cruiseny, she is nowhere in the league with Star Cruises. I have sailed SuperStar Aries 5 times already, and have Christmas Cruise booked. The tariff for SuperStar Aries is higher. The rate for my Christmas cruise, 4D/3N in a cat.CH outside, 2 lowers, with double picture windows on Deck 10 is the equivalent of US$ 244 base charge and US$ 57 surcharge for the holiday sailing. So, the total is US$ 301 plus port and tax.
A 3D/2N cruise on CSD runs US$ 102 at the present time.
My reason for mentioning that I did not have a deck plan for Fair Princess, is that I was interested to find out what the gutted rooms originally were. If you have the time, and it will not be too much bother for you, I would very much like to see them. Thanks Cruiseny for all your comments and input.

PamM: 144 pax is rather small isn't it! But the ship always sails no matter how many pax. The only time she does not sail, is when she is having trouble with her engines. And you are quite right about the gambling side. The Taiwanese are very big gamblers and high rollers at that! I am sure the casinos do quite well.
I hope in the future the owners will make the CSD more of an cruise experience, rather than concentrate on the gambling. But in today's world, I guess you must go where the money is.

As a side note, at present the CSD on the 3D2N cruise does not call at Ishigaki. It seems that she has not received her docking rights as yet. So she sails in the general direction of Ishigaki but does not dock.

Best regards to all,
Mike

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Originally posted by Deck 9 001:
And yes, Cruiseny, she is nowhere in the league with Star Cruises. I have sailed SuperStar Aries 5 times already, and have Christmas Cruise booked. The tariff for SuperStar Aries is higher. The rate for my Christmas cruise, 4D/3N in a cat.CH outside, 2 lowers, with double picture windows on Deck 10 is the equivalent of US$ 244 base charge and US$ 57 surcharge for the holiday sailing. So, the total is US$ 301 plus port and tax.

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Well then she is not in trouble so much competing with SuperStar Aires. I suppose you must be happy that she didn't come to the US market after all ...

quote:

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My reason for mentioning that I did not have a deck plan for Fair Princess, is that I was interested to find out what the gutted rooms originally were. If you have the time, and it will not be too much bother for you, I would very much like to see them. Thanks Cruiseny for all your comments and input.

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It's no trouble at all, I'll scan them in tomorrow or day after and e-mail you to them. She had lots of public rooms so I imagine they did a good deal of gutting!

Is it me or is the deck wood look a little run down ?

She dose look grate exterior view but looks better in Cunard colors next to QE2, the gates of hell would open up before that happens but still fun to image.